Garden Q&A: How can I perk up my amaryllis flowers?

  Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

Red amaryllis flowers. File picture

Question

I got a present of an amaryllis for Christmas. A few days ago, the flowers were standing tall and upright. This morning, they are bent over and lying on their side. What on earth can I do with it?”

Answer

Don’t panic, this is completely normal.

Those enormous, velvety flowers are incredibly heavy, and the tall, hollow flower stem simply can’t always support the weight. It hasn’t died, it hasn’t been overwatered, and it hasn’t “gone wrong”. It’s just done what an amaryllis will often do indoors when it's warm and growing fast.

Gently stake the flower stem with a cane or stick and loosely tie it for support. 

If it’s already bent too far, you can cut the stem cleanly and enjoy the flowers in a vase; they’ll last just as long.

Let the leaves develop and turn brown in time. They’re the solar panels for the bulb, storing energy for next year’s flowers.

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